Questions tagged [understanding]
The understanding tag has no usage guidance.
102
questions
-1
votes
1
answer
36
views
Court literature- What does this sentence mean
The court reserves jurisdiction to allocate the guardian ad litem incurred as the previously appointed guardian at litem is no longer available
0
votes
1
answer
47
views
Because “away” and “from” have similar ideas, “away from” is a common collocation
se16teddy:
English verbs of motion feel almost naked without a little adverb such as up, down, through, over or away, at least in conversational English. The prepositional phrase adds additional ...
- 503
0
votes
1
answer
13
views
...to be in process of continual change, of motion
Far from being dead, lifeless, inert, it is the very nature of matter
to be in process of continual change, of motion. Once we realise this,
then there is an end of appeal to the "initial impulse&...
- 799
1
vote
1
answer
34
views
Using of "spread"
When I try to write or read it is okay. No problem. I can quitely understand. But when I think about it I get confused a little bit. For example look at the following sentence:
They were supposed to ...
- 195
0
votes
2
answers
50
views
Doubt regarding the airline ticket information [closed]
I recently had an English test where we had to read a passage and answer questions about the meaning. I completely failed to understand certain portions of this passage and do not understand the ...
- 153
0
votes
1
answer
23
views
What the author is referring to with the word "aquatic ecosystems" [closed]
River pollution
A team from Cemagref in Lyon (FR) has identified a pertinent indicator of the level of pollution in rivers: the biofilm. A complex combination of bacteria, algae and fungi, the biofilm ...
- 31
-1
votes
1
answer
48
views
In this passage researchers are saying that biofilm indicates the level of pollution. But I didn't understand how it does this
River pollution
A team from Cemagref in Lyon (FR) has identified a pertinent indicator of the level of pollution in rivers: the biofilm. A complex combination of bacteria, algae and fungi, the biofilm ...
- 31
-1
votes
1
answer
37
views
"Sedgefield Yellow" and "Mallowflier"
the text is from a play called The River. characters are talking about fishing. What are "Black Bomber", "Sedgefield Yellow" and "Mallowflier" referring to? are the same ...
- 127
-1
votes
1
answer
62
views
Understanding "Boss the stone" and other phrases
The Passage is from Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. Ginger is a DJ and he never had the chance to work as a DJ and he is high at the moment. According to these lines, what's these phrases means: "...
- 127
0
votes
0
answers
25
views
Is "it started to grow arms" understandable here?
I write kinda fairy-tale, and there are two people who turned into other beings. When they begin to change into human form, I wrote that one sentence:
"In their stony bodies it/there started to ...
- 97
0
votes
0
answers
110
views
through-wall meaning
I was reading a standard (DS-1 Drill Stem Inspection) and I saw the following sentence:
The reference standard for flux leakage transverse flaw detection
units shall be a through-wall drilled hole ...
- 51
0
votes
1
answer
56
views
Understanding 2 Trevs
the passage is from Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. What 2 Trevs stand for?
GINGER. I’m a DJ.
JOHNNY. He’s an unemployed plasterer.
PROFESSOR. I see. Are you pure or applied?
GINGER ( to the PROFESSOR) ....
- 127
0
votes
1
answer
371
views
understanding house sister
what "esteemed house sister" means in the sentence?
Alice. In my short time as your head of dorm. I and Mia, your esteemed house sister.
The passage's from That Face (Play)
- 127
0
votes
1
answer
21
views
Understanding edges past the body
What is "He edges past the body" means in the last paragraph?
The living room. Alice hangs in the open doorway to the bedroom. Billy sits at the table with his
back to her. Screwed papers on ...
- 127
0
votes
2
answers
28
views
Understanding been up half the night lying in wait for her
I'm having trouble understanding of this passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What is the meaning of:"been up half the night lying in wait for her"?
UNCLE PAT. She’s been up half the ...
- 127
1
vote
1
answer
40
views
Understanding separate parts of passage from The Ferryman
I'm having trouble understanding of the separate parts of passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What are the meanings of these sentences according to the passages: "spread-eagled round the ...
- 127
1
vote
1
answer
85
views
Understanding sentences from The Ferryman
I'm having trouble understanding of this passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What are the meanings of these sentences according to the passage: "get a bead on", "I’m a ways past ...
- 127
0
votes
1
answer
52
views
What is the meaning of "in the long daisies"? [closed]
What "the long daisies" mean in the passage? The passage is from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth)
AUNT MAGGIE. No, I’ll answer. The truth, girls. The truth is… I loved a
man who loved another. He ...
- 127
0
votes
1
answer
58
views
Understanding word in the college is 1987
The Passage is from Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem. what is this line: "Word in the college is 1987 is going to be worse." means? Also, who is Maureen Pringle?
PROFESSOR: A DJ, eh?
GINGER: That’s right,...
- 127
2
votes
2
answers
84
views
I don't understand that sentence, even though I know conditionals well
"If David didn't give up smoking, Liza wouldn't marry him."
I only can see that sentence in the 3rd conditional (unreal past) - "If David hadn't given up smoking, Liza wouldn't have married him". But ...
- 402
1
vote
1
answer
259
views
What do draft and swine mean?
the passage's from Frankenstein play. it's a part of the opening song. What do draft and swine mean?
Come gather ye
feast on our Empire's riches
New heaven on Earth
shall to all ages rise
Those ...
- 127
0
votes
1
answer
58
views
What does "if the children breed with the children" mean?
It's from a play based on Mary Shelley's novel.
What does "if the children breed with the children" mean?
Victor: I don’t know. I have travelled where no man has travelled. I wonder
how far I can go....
- 127
0
votes
2
answers
102
views
What does Meat for the dogs mean?
What does Meat for the dogs mean?
it's from a play called Frankenstein
Victor: I shall need a steady supply of internal organs.
Ewan: Very good, sir.
Rab: Organs!
Ewan: Quiet, Rab. Meat for the dogs....
- 127
1
vote
2
answers
57
views
The understood subject of "instructing."
I have read from a previous post:
What part of speech is "instructing ..." here?
1.The editor at once sent the journalist a telegram instructing him to find out the exact number of steps ...
- 1,391
0
votes
2
answers
329
views
Does ''Blurt out'' mean to say something unintentional?
Like to say something bad,offensive,embarrassing,etc to somebody you didn't you mean to say
- 41
0
votes
0
answers
60
views
Understanding "Cracker"
What does "cracker" mean in these passages from The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth:
1:
QUINN. Where’s Michael?
CAITLIN. Flat on his cracker in bed.
2:
MICHAEL. Morning, Tom Kettle. Where’s m’da?
...
- 127
2
votes
1
answer
206
views
Understanding "pallias"
What does "pallias" mean in the passage:
UNCLE PAT. Cow Gum! Now there’s a scent to stir the soul. September,
nineteen hundred and eleven… I was seven years old. Pat, Maggie,
Arthur, Frank and me, ...
- 127
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
Sentence Understanding : "at certain phases of the moon"
What "at certain phases of the moon" Means, is this a slang:
Jesus: The whole point of going into the desert is not eating bread. If I wanted bread I'd go to a shop. As for throwing yourself off a ...
user98501
2
votes
1
answer
349
views
"He couldn’t hear her voice above the noise.", Someone help me understand this sentence
So in this sentence "He couldn’t hear her voice above the noise.", does "above the noise" describe "her voice"? if so, how come "he couldn't hear her voice".
Shouldn't he be able to hear the voice ...
- 207
0
votes
3
answers
79
views
Usage/understanding of "holding it all"?
In the Off Camera Show (timestamp), Brit Marling says today many people take many photos a day as a way to say
I'm here, I'm alive and I'm holding it all.
Is this a way to express someone has ...
- 1,589
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
Understanding Last lot & New lot
What does "Under the last lot. Under the new lot" mean in this passage:
Paul: Have you ever seen me cry? Do I look like a man who cries? Has
there ever been a day … ? Christ, we’ve known each ...
user90219
1
vote
1
answer
77
views
Do I understand the tense forms correctly?
I made the following sentences up by myself and I would like to know if they are grammatically correct.
Past Continuous:
“I was searching for a job in the newspaper when I got a phone call.”
or ...
- 213
0
votes
1
answer
17
views
Understanding a line through a passage
What this line means: That’s what I always you see?
(Edward canes Anna once)
Edward: One. That’s what I always you see? I think it’s fairer you see to
count aloud. So that the boy knows ...
user90219
1
vote
2
answers
31
views
sentence fragment to be improved
I ask the following as a non-native English speaker.
In this question, I have trouble understanding how does "accompany me to my office" connect to anything else in the sentence.
Original sentence:
...
- 9,148
2
votes
3
answers
110
views
"you can" vs "you cannot" How to understanding? What is difference?
When I try accept my answer, I seen a prompt:
You can accept your own answer in 2 days
This sentence make sense to me as miswritten for:
You cannot accept your own answer in 2 days
I post ...
- 149
1
vote
1
answer
43
views
Which type of coin is which?
The type of the receiving coin, upon which another set of dies are
struck, is referred to as "undertype", while the type being struck
over it is called an "overtype". (Source)
Am I understanding ...
- 555
2
votes
3
answers
118
views
How to quickly understand mutliple continuous parenthetical phrases?
The problem comes when I try to understand (multiple) continuous parentheses, for example:
Summary of text leading up to this: someone purpose to eliminate 13 majors about humanities since they are ...
- 65
1
vote
2
answers
54
views
a means to the end of
There is a misconception held by some that Stoics have no interest in
worldly goods and pleasures. This is not correct, as previously
stated. The acceptance of a period of discomfort, similarly, ...
- 799
0
votes
1
answer
71
views
Meaning of “very confined"
What does "Very confined” mean in this short news update?
Shortly after news of the fire broke, Trump, who was in Washington,
tweeted: “Fire at Trump Tower is out. Very confined (well built
...
- 3,467
3
votes
1
answer
139
views
Expression UK radio hosts and MCs use to shout out to friends/fans
I notice this mainly in drum 'n' bass/grime/dubstep radio shows from UK where an MC or the host frequently talks over the tune. Similar to terms like 'shout out to xxx' or 'big up xxx', where xxx ...
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
meaning of "grounds on"
This is one of the answer choices given in LSAT exam.
The music critic challenges the grounds on which the music professor
generalizes from the particular context of rap music to the broader
...
- 685
0
votes
2
answers
149
views
"This" modifier
Biologists have found that all tadpoles of that species begin life as
omnivores, feeding mainly on organic debris in their soon-to-be-dry
pool in the desert, but that occasionally one tadpole eats ...
- 685
1
vote
2
answers
69
views
"Unwelcome liberty", "taken with"
His works were praised by many literary critics as fresh, inventive
approaches to the form of the novel. Others, however, dismissed his
works as simple retelling of local tales, full of unwelcome ...
- 685
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
What's the exact meaning of "a role dispatched with some....and so on
Could ypu please explain and paraphrase the last part of the sentence.
The whole sentence: "Colin Firth gives a warm and sympathetic performance as Bertie, the Duke Of York, an introverted and ...
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
163
views
"purely out of"
Some consumers will not continue to patronize a company purely out of
brand loyalty.
I have two interpretation for this sentence.
consumers does not go to the company because it is completely ...
- 685
1
vote
1
answer
83
views
as being arbitrary
Many people object to mandatory retirement at age 65 as being
arbitrary, arguing that people over 65 make useful contributions.
However, if those who reach 65 are permitted to continue working
...
- 685
1
vote
1
answer
615
views
Is "can be viewed using many different devices" correct? Is it missing a word?
Web pages can be viewed using many different devices: desktops, tablets, and phones.
I don't understand "viewed using" section. I think it miss a certain word.
- 141
0
votes
2
answers
136
views
Passage understanding
There is a passage that I cannot understand. It is from one of the LSAT prep tests.
Superconductors are substances that conduct electricity without
resistance at low temperatures. Their use, ...
- 685
0
votes
1
answer
29
views
poem to someone
Even in a laudatory poem to famous Chinese poet Li Po, which partly
serves to place Lum's work within a distinguished literary tradition,
Lum refuses to offer a stereotypical nostalgia for the ...
- 685
3
votes
3
answers
209
views
Is my interpretation of this paragraph from a horror short story by Arthur C. Doyle right?
I'm reading Arthur Conan Doyle's LOT NO. 249, and I'm having some troubles understanding the first paragraph.
Of the dealings of Edward Bellingham with William Monkhouse Lee, and of the cause of ...
- 1,105